MICHAEL MCGOUGH argues that conservatives should vote UKIP in the Euro-electionsI AM a conservative, I vote for conservative policies but I have for so long been let down by the Conservative Party which has been compliant as we have been drawn into ever closer union with our fellow European Union member states, treaty by treaty. We have only once been given our say on EU membership and that was by a Labour government in 1975. Is it right that the generations unable to vote then are constrained by that ancient vote, which only referred to an economic arrangement?
For some time now, in anticipation of the next General Election delivering change to a Conservative administration, the media (Financial Times, Spectator and Andrew Marr for example) have been sponsoring the idea that David Cameron is a hardened Eurosceptic. But is he? Past evidence would indicate a short period of tenure if that were so. We must never forget how Lady Thatcher was removed subsequent to her Bruges Speech, nor Iain Duncan Smith after his in Prague. Discarding the previous robust party policy of repatriation of fishing rights, appointing a Europhile head of
candidate selection and remaining in the federalist European People’s Party despite promising not to do so ,does little to confirm him as “one of us”, for I am certain that TFA Members of all parties are confirmed Eurosceptics. Cameron says that he will definitely leave the EPP after the 2009 European Elections, finally delivering on his leadership election promise. However Miro Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister, Cameron’s partner in forming his proposed post-EPP grouping in the European Parliament, is “committed” to ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, hardly an ideal partner to roll back the EU.
As soon as the Conservative MEPs had elected a new leader, the EurophileTimothy Kirkhope, Charles Tannock suggested, on Conservative Home, that they should stay in the EPP, for reasons of status.What of Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague? I recall his commitment to opposition of the Euro was limited to the life of one parliament. With the Pound collapsing towards parity with the Euro and the current “beneficial” economic and financial crisis, demands for us to adopt the currency of the European Superstate will come again and be harder to oppose post-ratification of the Lisbon. Treaty which requires it. We have an opt-out, but nothing is forever.
Speaking at a Freedom in the City talk, Professor Haseler of the Federal Trust confirmed that the Europhiles would push for this and that Roland Rudd, Chairman of Britain for New Europe had an article calling for this on the Evening Standard website (15.11.08) followed by Will Hutton in the Observer (16.11.08).A major plank of the Conservatives’ European manifesto will be apparent strident opposition to the Lisbon Treaty and a commitment to hold a future referendum, post a general election. This played well until David Cameron made his “Harlow Declaration” diluting his initial commitment. Policy is now: “So if the Lisbon Treaty is not yet in force at the time of the next General Election and a Conservative Government is elected we would put the Treaty to a referendum of the British people, recommending a “no” vote.
If the British people rejected the Treaty, we would withdraw Britain’s ratification of it. But if the Treaty is in force we will be in a different situation. In our view, then, political integration would have gone too far and the Treaty would lack democratic legitimacy in this country and we would not let matters rest there.” What does “we would not let matters rest there” mean? We will be sold the familiar, but sad old tale of unceasing efforts to renegotiate our position in the EU, so much easier from within. Nigel Farage, at the Bruges Group meeting in Birmingham, recalled a cartoon of a fish within a fishing net telling another outside
“it is much easier to negotiate from within”.
If Cameron was really opposed to Lisbon he could kill it dead NOW, by offering a referendum, come what may, without qualification. If Lisbon is no good before ratification it cannot be good after. If, because of treaty law, a NO vote in such a referendum meant we would have to make provision to leave the EU then so be it. We would, as The Freedom Association’s own campaign states, be Better Off Out of the EU anyway. Where are the Conservatives crying out about yet another year of unsatisfactory EU accounts? With losses of 2p in the £1 being deemed acceptable by the auditors and with actual losses being greater such as 11p in the £1 for structural funds (6 billion Euros) one would expect a Shadow Chancellor to be outraged, not pussyfooting around the margins of employment taxes.
There will be no referendum, but there will be an early opportunity for all those opposed to Lisbon and everything else that is wrong with our membership of the EU clearly to highlight this. Voting for the UK Independence Party on 4 June next year and securing yet more UKIP MEPs will send a message to the EU, the Government, and most importantly,David Cameron, that we too seek change.Lend us your vote and change your country put country before party. I am certain that David Cameron would then be forced to change and promise us the policies the majority demand. If he does that, I envisage that all conservatives shall once again be able to vote together at a general election.
Michael McGough is a Freedom Association Management Committee Member and UK Independence Party European “Parliament” Candidate for the Eastern Counties
michael.mcgough@lineone.net
Josh O'Nyons is a former UKIP member.
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